You'll be met at the airport and in Guatemala City for your 1 hour transfer to Antigua: the base for the first of volcano climb. After settling into your hotel, you'll have free time to wander Antigua's cobbled streets and browse the myriad street stalls.

In the morning you'll get straight to the task at hand: climbing volcanoes. You'll meet the group and drive to the trailhead of Pacaya volcano, lace up your hiking boots and head for the summit. The route to the top weaves through lava fields, formed by eruptions as recent as 2010. Geothermal hotspots can be found on the cooled lava formations; you can even roast marshmallows here to fuel your hike.

When you reach Pacaya's peak - your first of five volcano summits - you'll enjoy a picnic overlooking neighbouring volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. You'll head back to Antigua for the evening: grab a beer and some classic Central American food from Antigua's many street stalls, bars, restaurants and cafes.

You'll grab a big breakfast in Antigua before heading to the trailhead at La Soledad. Today's volcano hike is up the imposing Acatenango. The hike starts off through farmland and small villages, before ascending into a cloud forest. This is an area of high biodiversity, home to the famous Quetzal bird. You'll soon be greeted with sweeping views of the highlands and neighbouring volcanoes: a good time for a scenic refuel as you picnic on the volcano slopes.

After hiking through temperate forest, you'll reach the private camp spot at 3750m above sea level, cut into the slopes just below the tree line. Enjoy a fresh camp dinner and a night around the campfire. You are likely to have views of Fuego volcano belching fumes into the sky, just 4km away. It is an active volcano, with its last major eruption in 2018.

You'll rise early to complete the hour-long hike to the summit of Acatenango, along a sand and scree covered trail. Reaching the cold and windswept summit, you'll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the entire Guatemalan highlands, all the way to the border of Mexico.

You'll descend via a different route, moving through several different micro-climates as you lose altitude. Back at the trailhead, you'll jump in the van and head towards Guatemala's second largest city, Quetzaltenango - also known by its Mayan name, Xela. Check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening in this lively city.

Next up is your third volcano peak: Santa Maria. Again you'll have an early start - but as the well-known phrase goes: the early bird summits the volcano! There is a 45 minute drive to reach the village of Llanos del Pinal where your hike starts.

Santa Maria has a fairly steep ascent to the summit along a dirt trail. After 4 or 5 hours of hiking, you'll have earnt your summit views: a spectacular bird's eye view of Santa Maria's sister volcano, the active Santiaguito. From high up on Santa Maria, you'll be able to look down into the fiery crater of Santiaguito. If you're lucky you may get to witness an eruption. Back at your hotel in Xela, you'll have a free evening to explore the city and chill after another incredible day of volcano hiking.

Another early start for a 3 hour drive to Tuichan, close to the border with Mexico. Tuichan is the base for your climb up Tajumulco, Guatemala's highest volcano and the highest point in all of Central America. The hiking today is fairly easy going, but it's a long day with around 7 or 8 hours of hiking. There are beautiful forest trails and pine studded ridges on the way to your camp spot for the night. You'll put your head down to sleep at roughly 4000m above sea level - but not just yet.

From the camp, the volcano summit is a steep climb for 30 minutes more, topping out at 4219m. You're officially on the top of Central America! Another awesome night of wild volcano camping awaits on the short descent back to camp.

Wake up on the volcano and make your descent down Tajumulco. You have a long drive to recover on, with a lunch stop en route, through the Guatemalan highlands to spectacular Lake Atitlan. You'll take a boat across the lake from Panajachel to your lakeside eco-hotel in the small town of San Pedro. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy this special place. Head in to town or just lie in a hammock and bask in the views of water and fire - lake and volcanoes all around you.

You may have been relaxing, but this adventure isn't over yet! Today is your fifth and final volcano summit: San Pedro volcano. After breakfast beside the lake, you'll take a boat across to the trail head. Experience your final epic hike through cloud forest, with sweeping highland vistas and spectacular views back down towards Lake Atitlan. At over 3000m, San Pedro volcano is no baby, but a fitting place to end your volcano hiking adventure.

Congratulations: you've summited five volcanoes in a week! You've certainly earned a rest day, so the lake and eco-hotel is yours to soak up as you wish. There are kayaks available for use, or you can head to one of the best swimming spots at the lake. If you have some energy left, you can opt to head out ziplining or take a trip to nearby Mayan villages. Late in the afternoon you'll head back to Antigua for a final evening celebrating with your week of volcano summits with your group.

Enjoy breakfast in Antigua and any spare time you may have before your host takes you back to the airport in Guatemala City for your departure flight.

What's included?

• All of the camping equipment for sleeping on the Acatenango and Tajumulco volcanoes is provided

What do I need to bring?

Bags

• Soft overnight duffel bag or rucksack
• Daypack
• Waterproof liner for rucksack or drybags

Clothes

• Down jacket
• Waterproof jacket
• Waterproof trousers
• Breathable wicking layers
• Fleece jacket or similar
• Thermals (merino is best)
• Warm hat
• Buff or neckscarf
• Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
• T-shirts
• Underwear & socks
• Swimwear
• Sunglasses
• Sunhat
• Something to sleep in
• Hiking boots (worn-in)
• Sandals

Other

• Padlock for left luggage
• Universal travel plug adapter
• Power bank or solar charger
• Spare camera batteries
• Passports (and visas)
• Travel Insurance documents
• Ear plugs
• Insect repellant
• Suncream
• Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
• Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
• Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry out)
• Quick-dry towel
• Alcohol hand-gel
• Headtorch or torch
• Reusable water bottle x 1 ltr
• Biodegradable wet-wipes
• Energy bars and snacks
• Water purification tablets/treatment system